Spotlight



Oct. 19 1926.

1,603,908 J. P. CUMMINGS SPOTLIGHT Original Filed April 25. 1922 2 sheets sheet 1 6 Oct. 19 1926. l 603 908 v J. P. CUMMINGS SPOTLIGHT Original File Apr 1922' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m L4. n o. 0 n 3 Z I x 7 Patented 0st. 19, 1926.,

arena 1 r. entire-r TATE-S 1 or CHICAGO, ILtInois, ASSIGNOR, ey MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

ro Franc MANUFACTURING .00., on noo ironn, ILLrNoIs, A oonrona'rron or retracts.

SPOTLIGHT.

Application filed April 25, 1922, Serial No. 556,451. Renewed ()ctober 22, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in spot lights and supporting devices therefor and has as its general object to provide a spot light and support which may be conveniently installed in place within the wind shield oi a closed automobile or in the wind shield of an automobile equipped with wind wings or in the windshield of a touring car where side curtains' are employed, the purpose otthe-invention being to'provide for ready and convenient adjustmentof thespot light to direct its rays as desired and without regard to the obstruction ordinarily ottered'by the door pane of a closed car or the wind wing or side curtain of an open car. l Vith this end in view the invention contemplates the provision of a device of this class embodying a supporting socket member or holder adapted to be set into the wind shield section, a ball mounted therein "for substantially universal adjustment, means at the forward side of the ball for supporting the spot light proper or, more generally speaking, a light ray projecting device, and means projecting from therear, or opposite side of the ballwhereby it may be adjusted so as to present the light ray projecting device in any direction desired.

One of the primary objects of the inveniili tion is to provide a novel friction ,mediunn "for holding the ball m a set position so'tnat as, torrexample,@thelowereidge portion and while,by means of the handle, the ball may be rotatably adjusted to present the light ray projecting deviceinany desired direction and held without requiringthe manipulation of any other securing means, never-' theless the ball will be firmly and securely held in any position to which it is adjusted, the invention contemplating in this respect the eliminationotbinding screws or any similar devices'which it has heretofore been deemed necessary to employ forsecuring the lightin set positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction adapting the spot light proper to be employed when desired, as a trouble lamp, an'dlikewiseto provide novel means whereby the bulb ofthespot light may be focused in a convenient manner and i without the necessity'ot' acting upon adjusting s'crewsor similar devices as is at present customary.

In the accompanyingdrawings:

vFigure 1 is perspective view otthe spot light embodying the invention installed trat i llig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View thipngh;v the spotlight;

ifig. '3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on a plane between the socket plates of i the device;

is a detail sectional view on the ins 4%4: of Fig. 3w ith the parts assembled;

F g. ,5 is a view similar to Fig. i illusg the partsabout to be assembled; 16 an elevation of a modified form of the friction medium .Fig. .T is asimilar view illustrating a further modification;

; -Fig. Sis a. detail View illustrating a fur- .1tliermodified form of friction medium.

in the drawings the numerall indicates in general a wind sh eld section, for example the lower section which comprises the usual :trame 2 including the lower rail 3 and stile t-which frame members are provided with theusual groove 5 receiving the edges oi the wind shield pane indicated by the numeral 6. For the purposeof installing the devicevembodying'zthe invention, the lower left hand corner of the pane 6, inithc illustrated embodiment of the invention, is cut away .as, best shown 111 -F1gs. l and 2 of ihQ'CllilWl HgS. In other embodimentsot the invention a rectangular opening might be formed in one edge tportionxot the pane 6 spaced from the adjacent end edge oi -the pane, but as this and other immaterial modifications fall within the-scope oi the-appended claims, they constitute changes which may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 {The device embodying the invention comprises holding'or socket member which is indicated in general by the numeral 7 and which comprises a pair of plates 8 which are of counterpart term and are disposed with their faces in contact as illustrated clearly' in- Flgs. 2; and 4 ot the drawings.

o't'tl'ie plates 7 andtheir othervertical edges ill) are formed with offset flanges 9 providing between them, in the assembled relation of the plates, a channel 10 of dimensions to accommodate the edges of the cut-away portion of the pane. At this point itwill be noted that in installing the device it is only required to cut away one corner of the pane 3 instead of forming an opening in the pane lying wholly within the bounds of the n'iargins thereof so that there is little likelihood of the pane being damaged in the op eration, and, furthermore, by reason of the factthat one or more of the edges of the socket member comprising the plates 8 are fitted in the pane receiving groove of one of the members of the frame 2, the wind shield pane is to a great extent relieved of any strains which might otherwise be imposed upon it because of the presence of the device. The plates 8 are secured together in their proper assembled relation, face to face, in any suitable manner, as, for example, by screws or bolts indicated by the'numeral 11. The plates are formed in their central portions with openings 12 which are surrounded by retaining elements, in the present instance comprising flanges 13. In the illustrated embodiment these flanges are integral with the plates 8 but they might be otherwise formed to serve the purpose which will presently be explained. The retaining elements, in the present instance the flanges 13, also surround seats 14 formed in the meeting or opposing faces of the lates 8, and the faces of the flanges 13 wiich are presented to the openings 12, are preferably given the contour of a spherical curve. It will now be evident that when the plates are assembled the flanges '18 will define a socket the wall of which has the contour of section of a sphere. The socket member 7 above described constitutes a mounting for the supporting means for the spot light proper and this supporting means includes a ball 15 which is dispo'ed within the openings 12 in the plates 8 at the time of assemblage of the plates. The particular manner in which the ball 15 is supported for universal rotative adjustment within the socket defined by the openings 12 and surrounding flanges 13, will presently be fully described and reference will now be had to the spot light proper and the man-- nor of mounting the same upon or within the said ball.

T he spot light proper is indicated in general by the numeral 16 and comprises a reflector shell 1? within the front of which is nounted the usual lens or plain glass 18. At its back the shell 17 is provided with a cylindrical tubular extension 19 which is removably fitted into a diametric here or opening 20 formed in the ball 15, the extension 19 being of a length to project rearwardly beyond the'ball when the spot light 16 is assembled therewith and the said extension has been fitted to the fullest extent into the opening 20. F or a purpose to be presently explained, the rear end portion of the extcin sion 19 is formed with longitudinal incisions 21, preferably three in number and equidistantly spaced, and the extension is exteriorly tapered in the direction of its extremity as indicated by the numeral 22. The ball is provided upon its rear side and at the rear restricted tapered portion 28 which, when the handle member is threaded on to the nipple extension 23, is designed to ride in engagement with the tapered end 22 of the extension 19 and contract said end about an electrical connection or conduit which is indicated in general by the numeral 29, Said connection or conduit 29 comprises a tubular body 30 which is snugly and yet slidablv djustably fitted into the extension 19 of the spot light shell 17. At its forward end this tubular body 30 is adapted in the usual man- 1101',.21S indicated by the numeral 31, to receive the base 32 of the bulb 28. In a like manner the rear end of the tubular body 250 is adapted at 33 to accommodate a plug connection 3 1- to which the conductor wires 27 are electrically connected. A core 35 of insulating material is fitted into the tubular body 30, and conductor wires 36 are led through this core and connected with the terminals ofthe sockets 31 and [is stated, the connection or conduit 29 is slidably adjustable through the extension 19 and it will be evident that when the handle member is disengaged from the nipple 23 and slipped backwardly upon the conductor wire 27, the said connection 29 may be bodily adusted forwardly or backwardly through the extension 19 so as to focus the bulb 28. It will also be evident at this point that after the connection 29 has been adjusted so as to properly focus the bulb 28 the handle memher 2% may be returned to its proper position and threaded on to the nipple extension 23 whereupon its tapered interior portion 28 willbe caused to ride against the tapered surface 22 of the extension 19 and this portion of the extension will be contracted into binding engagement with the exterior surface of the tubular body 30 of the connection 29 thus securing the connection in its Interiorly, the shell 25 of the position otadjustment. This provides an exceptionally convenient and readily ina- .nipulable means for .t'ocusing the bulb of the spot ,light and is quite distinguished from devices in which it is necessary to adjust screws and other mechanical parts in focusing the bulb. Atthis point it is to be observed that should it be desired to employ the device as a trouble lamp this may be done by unthreading the handle member from the nipple extension 23, disconnecting the plug 3d and then bodilycremoving the spot light proper from the ball 15 after which theplug 34 may be reinserted into the rear end of the connection 29 oranothensuitprovision of highly efficient means .for. .maintaining the ball 15 in its various po sitions of adjustment without however in teriering in, any way with the immediate. and

convenient. setting of saidball 15 through thencdium of the handle member 1 24:,

and likewise without thenecessity of [adjusting any securing devices such asbinding screws or the like. With this end in view there is provided a't'riction medium which is housed withln the socket 7 and which coacts with the ball 15. Inthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. lto 5,1nclus1've, this medium comprises an annular helical spring 37 which in its .lllltldl form and condition is of a diameter slightly less than that of the ball 15. The seat it provided within the socket 7 is of a radial depth slightly less than the cross scctional diameter of the element 37 but of a width slightly greater than said crosssectional diameter and'it willbenot'ed by a comparison of Figs. 4. and of the drawings that when-the plates comprising the socket 7, together with the element 37 and ball are all assembled and the said plates secured together, the element 37 will be crowded into the seat 1 k and will be caused to irictionally bind the ball 15, the latter being, after such assemblage of the parts, supported in a manner to float within the socket and be held in a set position solely by the said element 37. As will be apparent by reference to Fig. 4E and a comparison of this figure with what is shown in Fig. 5, the element 37 is somewhat compressed and its cross sectional contour somewhat changed at the time of assemblage of the parts reprevent.forward or rearward displacement. of theball from its socket, and serve no ,fer red to. y It will..now.be obvious that the ball-15 .issupported in a manner to float Within theelement 37 and besu'p'ported sole- 1y by sai d element. lt;is true that the flanges 13 surround the ball 15 but they are sun stantially out otcontact therewith and do vnot in themselves constitute a bearing surface for "the member. In fact, they serve solely as retainers or a restraining means to other purpose.

FFlg'. dot. the drawings illustrates amodijfied form of the friction medium and the said medium in this form comprises an annular body 38, circular in cross section, and formed of rubber or a composition of rubber and other materials or of any other substance for material which may be found suitable for thep urpose, the body38 being interiorly and .335 'exteriorly oi diameters corresponding. substantially to 1 the diameters of the .coil spring member 37. Fig. 7 ofthe drawings illustrates a further modification of the triotional medium and in this embodiment saicl eo medium consists of arcuate segments 39 of (any suitable frictional material such, for ex" ample, as tiber, w hich are connected end to end in an -annular series .by coil springs 10, the segment 39 likewise having inner ant outer diameters corresponding to those of the coil spring 37. Fig. 8 or the drawings fillustrates a still further modification of the frictional medium which comprises a split annular body 410]? spring steel'or other re- IOO silient material having its outer sides '01 approximately circular contour-in crosssection and in its inner side or periphery concaved oftlie invention, the 'friction medium is re silient. and contractible and circumferential ly encompasses the ball and supports the same as well as binding thereagainst with ,110 .sufficient firmness to retain it in any position A to which it may be adjusted. Therefore, the ball maybe said .to 'float within the circum ference. or and upon the friction medium whether it be otone former another. Ini15 the forms illustrated in Figs. 4, 6 and 7 oi the drawings the said medium is also compressible to a greater or less degree.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A spotlight support comprisin a socket having an opening and asurrounding seat, a spotlight carrying ball disposed in the opening in the socket, and a frictional holding medium housed in the seat in the socket and encircling the ball and having a cross sectional dimension in the plane of the seat greater than the depth of the seat whereby to bind between the base of the seat and the ball and hold the ball in a set position.

a light bulb support adjustably mounted in said tubular member and held in a set position by the contraction of said portion thereof.

In a device of the class described, a socket, a ball therein, a tubular member fitthrough the ball and having a contractible end portion, a light bulb support slidably mounted in said tubular member and of a length to project at one end'beyond the corresponding end of the member whereby force mav be applied to s. A I port, and hollow handle progectmg from the bail and constructed interiorly to bind the contractible portion of the tubular member about the light bulb support and thereby hold the la ter in a set position.

in a device of the class described, a

socket, a ball therein, a tubular member fitted through the ball and having a split contractible portion, a light bulb support slid- :ibly mounted in said tiibular member, a retlector carried by the end'ot the tubular 11 niber remote from the contractible pol tion thereof, the ball having a threaded extenrion encircling said tubular member, and a handle member threaded on to said extension and coactlng with the contractible portion of the tubular member for binding the same about the light bulb s pport to hold the latter in a set position. i

5. In a device o1 the class described, a socket, a ball therein having an opening therethrough, a reflector shell having a tubular extension removably fitted through said open ng and provided with a contractible end. a light bulb support comprising a body slidably fitted in the extension and adapted at its end adjacent the reflector shell for the support of a light bulb, the body being adapted at its opposite end for the atta'lnncnt an electrical conductor and pro jectino' at MS latter end beyond the corresoondinn' cud ot the tubular extension of the ciicctor shell, and a handle projectina' from the ball and enclosing the contractibleend end to adjust the supon its of the tubular extension and the projecting:

end of the slidable body whereby to tionally bind the contractible end of the tcnsion about the projecting end of the body and hold the body in a set position.

(5; A spot-light support comprising a socket consisting of counterpart plates secured together with their inner faces in contact and having; circular openings C(illtlilllf, therethrough and provided with lateral retainers on their outer faces at the walls of said openings, the walls of the openings forming an annular seat having" a width greater than its depth, a ball disposer through the said circular openings, and an annular contractible member housed in said seat and surrounding and bearing upon the ball, the normal internal diameter of the said member being less than the diameter of the ball and the radial cross sectional diameter "of the memberbeing less than the width of the seat but greater than the depth of the same. p

7.111 a spotlight, a socket adapted to be mountetl in a windshield and provided with intern-d annular recess extending around he interior of the socket, a spotlight supping ball adjustably carried-by said socket, a spotligl'it'and a handle for manipulating said "all carried by said ball on opposite means m (all sides of said socltet, and resilient comprising; a coiled spring disposed side in said recess and around the interior oi said socket yieldably engaging; the surface of said. ball at a plurality points for frictionally retaining said ball in adjusted position.

8. A potlight comprising, a socket menr ber ada sted to be mounted in an opening in a windshield, a ball supported by said socket, a handleand a lamp carried by said ball at opposite sides respectively of the windshield. and a coiled spring; interposed between said ball andsoolret and circumferentially of said socket and norinaliv compressed between the ball and socket for l :c holding said ball in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

JOHN P. CUMMINGS. 

